NBA Draft 2013: Breaking Down Best Athletes Available

Upside is one of the most common words used in association with the NBA draft. Athleticism is perhaps the key trait in this regard.

An incredibly skilled shooter who is limited athletically won't usually be tagged as a player with a ton of upside.

There is little that can be done to add speed, agility or leaping ability. Conditioning helps, but a guy like Jack Cooley of Notre Dame will never be as good of an athlete as Mason Plumlee of Duke or Tony Mitchell of North Texas.

Obviously, there's more than to being a great player than elite athleticism, but great physical skills will get scouts and general manager's attention.

Here is a look at four of the best athletes available in the 2013 NBA draft. What role best fits these players in the NBA?

Here is a list of A-plus athletes not featured in this article:

Ben McLemore - Kansas

Rodney Williams - Minnesota

Plumlee - Duke

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - Georgia

Mitchell - North Texas

James Ennis—6'7" SF—Long Beach State

Ennis is a former high jumper who cleared 6'11" while attending Ventura College. His hops weren't reserved only for the track; he routinely shows off his bounce during games as well.

Check out this highlight reel from the 2012-13 season.

LBSU Athletics on YouTube

His game isn't just about dunks, though. Ennis averaged 16 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game last season.

He has a 6'11.5" wingspan per Draft Express, and the 22-year-old also plays with great fluidity. Ennis has potential sleeper written all over him.

He shot 35.8 percent from three-point range and there is no doubt he can defend on the NBA level. In Draft Express' latest mock draft, Ennis is slated as a second-round pick. This could be a name you hear a lot over the next few years.

Am I saying he could be a star? Maybe not a star, but I could certainly see him being a solid rotation player and even a starter.

Andre Roberson—6'7" SF/PF—Colorado

Who knew Buffaloes could fly? Usually they can't but Roberson is the exception. The 21-year-old out of Colorado used his awesome athleticism to be a force on both ends of the court in college.

MyrOsLove on YouTube

Can he find success in the NBA?

After making the decision to forego his final year of eligibility at Colorado, Roberson's stock in the upcoming NBA draft didn't exactly spike. Both NBA Draft.net and Draft Express have him slated for the second round.

Pre-draft workouts can change things, but in Roberson's case, I don't think it will. He simply doesn't have the type of off-the-dribble game to play the small forward position adequately in the NBA.

Andre Roberson’s dad says his son just needs an the right NBA team to showcase his skill set: dpo.st/104IBXz